Comic books have been an important part of American popular culture for nearly a century, and one of the most influential publishers during the Golden and Silver Ages of comics was Dell Comics. Founded in 1929 by George T. Delacorte Jr., Dell Comics initially focused on publishing pulp magazines and reprints of classic literature. However, the company entered the comic book market in 1938 and quickly became one of the leading publishers in the industry.

Dell Comics was renowned for producing high-quality comics featuring popular licensed characters, including Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Tarzan, and Superman. These comics were extremely popular with readers of all ages and helped to establish many of the characters as icons of American popular culture. In fact, Dell Comics was the leading publisher of comic books in the United States during the 1950s, outselling even Marvel and DC Comics.

One of the defining moments in the history of Dell Comics came in the 1950s with the Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency. This committee was established to investigate the link between comic books and juvenile delinquency. This led to the creation of the Comics Code Authority, which imposed strict regulations on comic book content. Dell Comics was one of the few publishers that supported the code, which helped to increase the company’s sales and establish its reputation for producing « wholesome » comics.

In addition to its impact on the comic book industry, Dell Comics played an important role in the wider popular culture of its time. In the 1940s and 1950s, comic books were one of the most popular forms of entertainment in America. The company’s licensed comics featuring popular characters from Disney, Warner Bros., and other major entertainment companies were hugely popular with readers and helped to establish many of these characters as beloved icons of American popular culture.

One of the most notable aspects of Dell Comics was the company’s commitment to producing high-quality comics. Dell was known for its innovative formats, such as the « Giant » and « King-Size » comics that featured larger pages and longer stories. The company’s artists and writers were among the best in the industry, and many of them went on to become legends in their own right. Some of the most famous artists who worked for Dell Comics include Carl Barks, who created many of the classic Donald Duck and Uncle Scrooge stories, and John Stanley, who created the popular character Little Lulu.

However, by the 1960s, Dell Comics faced increasing competition from new publishers, such as Marvel and DC Comics, and the rise of television as the dominant entertainment medium. In 1962, the company was acquired by Western Publishing and became part of the Gold Key imprint. While Dell Comics continued to produce licensed comics, including adaptations of popular TV shows like « Star Trek » and « The Twilight Zone, » sales began to decline. By the 1970s, Dell Comics faced significant financial difficulties and the company ceased publication in 1973.

Today, Dell Comics are highly prized by collectors and are seen as important artifacts of the Golden and Silver Ages of comics. The company’s support for the Comics Code Authority helped to establish its reputation for producing « wholesome » comics, and its commitment to producing high-quality comics helped to establish many beloved characters as icons of American popular culture. While Dell Comics may no longer be in business, its impact on the comic book industry and popular culture as a whole will be felt for generations to come.

Writer/artists Walt Kelly and Carl Barks are the most noted talents associated with the company. Other prolific scripters were Gaylord DuBois, Paul S. Newman, Don « Arr » Christensen, John Stanley, Bob Gregory, Robert Schaefer and Eric Freiwald, Lloyd Turner, Leo Dorfman, Don Segall , Edward Kean, Cecil Beard and Carl Fallberg. Artists who worked on comics published by Dell included Fred Harman, Alex Toth, John Carey, Russ Manning, Jesse Marsh, Alberto Giolitti, Paul Murry, Tony Strobl, Harvey Eisenberg, Tom Gill, Ken Hultgren, Dick Moores, Jack Bradbury, Gil Turner, Nat Edson, Fred Fredericks, Roger Armstrong, Jack Manning, Kay Wright, Bill Wright, Phil DeLara, Pete Alvarado, Dan Spiegle, Lynn Karp, Ellis Eringer, Paul Norris, Frank Bolle, Artie Saaf, Dan Noonan, John Ushler, Sam Glanzman, Bill Ziegler and John Buscema. Famed fantasy writer Charles Beaumont contributed a handful of stories for Dell’s funny animal comics early in his career, all done in collaboration with William F. Nolan

Dell Comics was the comic book publishing arm of Dell Publishing, which was established in 1929.
The company published comics until 1974 and was the most successful comic book publisher in the United States, claiming to sell 26 million copies per month in 1953.
Its first title was The Funnies, which was a newspaper tabloid insert.

The Funnies

Dell, 1929 Series

Publication Dates:January 16, 1929 – October 18 1930
Number of Issues Published:36 (#1 – #36)
Color:Color (some pages)
Dimensions:10.5″ x 15.5″
Paper Stock: Newsprint (no covers)

Dell, 1936 Series

Publication Dates:October 1936 – May 1942
Number of Issues Published:64 (#1 – #64)
Color:full color and some black and white
Dimensions:standard Golden Age U. S.
Paper Stock:glossy cover; newsprint interior
Binding:saddle-stitched
Publishing Format:was ongoing series
numbering continues with New Funnies (Dell, 1942 series) #65

The company collaborated with Eastern Color Printing to publish Famous Funnies: A Carnival of Comics in 1933, which was considered the first true American comic book.

Dell published the single-issue Famous Funnies: Series 1 in 1934. In 1938, Dell formed a partnership with Western Publishing to finance and distribute publications that Western would produce, which was a highly successful enterprise.

Ballyhoo

Dell, 1931 Series

Publication Dates:August 1931 – February 1939
Number of Issues Published:86 (#v1#1 – #v16#1)
Color:Full Color Cover; Black and White Interior
Dimensions:Magazine SizeBinding:Saddle-stitched
Adult oriented humor magazine. Lots of cartoons about drinking, prohibition, repeal, gambling, girls, the depression, gangsters. Social commentary on the times. Many of the cartoons are risque. Also contains fake advertising (like « wacky packages »).
Large format 8.5″ X 11.5″ on nice stock.

Popular Comics

Dell, 1936 Series

Publication Dates:February 1936 – July-September 1948
Number of Issues Published:145 (#1 – #145)
Color:color
Dimensions:standard
Golden Age U.S.Paper
Stock:glossy cover; newsprint interior
Binding:saddle-stitched
Publishing Format:was ongoing series
Publication Type:magazine

1000 Jokes

Dell, 1939 Series

Publication Dates:1938 – March-May 1969
Number of Issues Published:117 (#14 – #129)
Color:black and white interiors; color cover
Dimensions:magazine sized
Paper Stock:glossy white
Binding:saddle-stitched; squarebound
Publishing Format:was ongoing series
Publication Type:magazine
Numbering continues from 1000 New Jokes (Dell, 1934 series)

Dell Comics was best known for its licensed material, such as characters from Walt Disney Productions, Warner Bros., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and Walter Lantz Studio, along with many movie and television properties.
From 1938 to 1962, Dell’s most notable and prolific title was the anthology Four Color.

Four Color

Dell, 1939 Series

Publication Dates:[September 1939] – 1942
Number of Issues Published:25 (#1 – Dick Tracy – #25 – Popeye)
Color:color
Dimensions:standard
Golden Age U.S.Paper Stock:glossy cover; newsprint interior
Binding:saddle-stitched
Publishing Format:was ongoing series

Dell, 1942 Series

Publication Dates:1942 – April-June 1962
Number of Issues Published:1331 (#1 – Little Joe – #1354 – Calvin and the Colonel)
Color:color
Dimensions:standard Golden Age U.S.; standard Silver Age U.S.
Paper Stock:glossy cover; newsprint interior
Binding:saddle-stitched
Publishing Format:was ongoing series
Publication Type:magazine

Large Feature Comic

Dell, 1939 Series

Published in English (United States) 
Publication Dates:[April] 1939 – 1942
Number of Issues Published:30 (#1 – #30)
Color:color covers; black and white interiors
Dimensions:8.5″ X 11.37″
Paper Stock:newsprint- covers 1-9 heavy rough stock, 10-30 slick coated stock but very thin
Binding:saddle-stitched
Publishing Format:was ongoing series
Publication Type:magazine

Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories

Dell, 1940 Series

Publication Dates:October 1940 – August 1962
Number of Issues Published:264 (#v1#1 [1] – #v22#11 (263))
Publishing Format:Was ongoing series
Publication Type:magazine

A Look at Some of Their Most Popular Characters

Dell Comics was a prominent comic book publisher during the mid-20th century. They had a long-standing licensing agreement with Walt Disney Productions and Warner Bros., which allowed them to produce comics featuring some of the most beloved characters from these studios. But Dell Comics also had their own original characters that gained popularity in their own right. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the most popular characters that appeared in Dell Comics.

Disney Characters

Dell Comics had a deep relationship with Walt Disney Productions, which allowed them to produce comics featuring many of Disney’s iconic characters. Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and Pluto were all featured in their own series, as were lesser-known characters like Chip ‘n Dale, Scrooge McDuck, and the Three Little Pigs.

Warner Bros. Characters

In addition to Disney characters, Dell Comics also had a licensing agreement with Warner Bros. This allowed them to produce comics featuring characters from the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig.

Little Lulu

Created by Marjorie Henderson Buell in 1935, Little Lulu was a popular comic strip that eventually became a comic book series published by Dell Comics. The character was known for her wit and resourcefulness, and her comics were popular with both children and adults.

Tarzan

Dell Comics published a long-running series of Tarzan comics, which were based on the popular character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The comics followed Tarzan’s adventures in the jungle and often featured his wife, Jane, and their son, Boy.

The Lone Ranger

The Lone Ranger was a popular western character who starred in his own series of Dell Comics. The character was known for his silver bullets and his code of honor, which he followed as he fought against injustice in the Old West.

Turok, Son of Stone

Turok was a Native American hero who fought prehistoric creatures in his adventures. Created by Dell Comics, the character was known for his bravery and resourcefulness.

Zorro

Zorro was a masked vigilante who fought against corruption and injustice in Spanish California. The character was popularized by a series of Dell Comics, and he has since been adapted into numerous movies and television shows.

Felix the Cat

Felix the Cat was a classic cartoon character who had a long-running comic book series published by Dell Comics. Known for his mischievousness and his trademark grin, Felix was a popular character with readers of all ages.

Nancy and Sluggo

Nancy and Sluggo were characters from the popular comic strip created by Ernie Bushmiller. Dell Comics adapted the strip into a comic book series that was beloved by readers for its wit and humor.

Looney Tunes Characters

In addition to Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig, Dell Comics also published comics featuring other Looney Tunes characters like Tweety Bird, Sylvester, and Yosemite Sam. These comics were popular with children and adults alike.

Uncle Scrooge McDuck

Created by Carl Barks, Uncle Scrooge was a popular character in the Disney comics published by Dell Comics. The character was known for his wealth and his adventurous spirit, and his comics often featured him on treasure-hunting expeditions around the world.

Other Characters

Dell Comics also published comics featuring original characters like Little Audrey, Little Dot, Richie Rich, and Casper the Friendly Ghost. They also published comics featuring characters from other media like Flash Gordon, Mandrake the Magician, and Dick Tracy.

GEORGE DELACORTE, Jr.

(1893-1991)

George Thomas Delacorte Jr. was born on June 20, 1893 in Brooklyn, New York. He attended Brooklyn Boys’ High School and then went on to study at Harvard University and Columbia College, where he studied the Business of Advertising.

In 1912, he married Margarita Von Doenhoff and they had a son named Albert. Margarita was a certified German Language High School Teacher, and George worked in advertising.

In 1923, George founded his own publishing company, Dell Publishing Co., which became one of the largest publishers of paperback books in the world. He also founded the Delacorte Press, which published many successful novels, including Truman Capote’s « In Cold Blood » and William Goldman’s « The Princess Bride ».

In addition to his publishing ventures, George was also a philanthropist, donating money to various causes, including the Central Park Zoo and the Shakespeare Garden in Central Park. He also founded the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, which has hosted free performances of Shakespearean plays since 1962.

George Thomas Delacorte Jr. passed away on May 8, 1991, leaving behind a legacy as a successful publisher, philanthropist, and lover of the arts.